Tech Leader’s Guide: Building Data Products

In this episode, Amir sits down with Santhosh Kumar, Head of Data at Trepp, to unpack the evolving world of Data as a Product. Data is no longer just a support function—it’s becoming a core business driver. Santhosh shares how data teams are embracing a product-oriented approach, aligning closely with business goals while mirroring software engineering practices.

If you’ve ever wondered:

How data can be treated like a shippable product

What mindset shifts data teams need

And how collaboration between data, product, and tech teams is evolving

This episode is for you!

🔥 Key Takeaways:

Data as a Product = Data with Purpose:

It’s not just about pipelines and reports—it’s about delivering business value like increased revenue, better user experience, and cost optimization.

Striking a Balance Between Tech & Business:

Santhosh emphasizes that successful data teams blend technical excellence with a strong understanding of business objectives. It’s not one or the other.

Mindset Shift is Crucial:

Data teams must move from being reactive service providers to proactive product thinkers—asking the right questions, prioritizing value, and collaborating closely with stakeholders.

Alignment with Software Engineering Practices:

Data engineering is increasingly mirroring software engineering: roadmaps, product managers, long-term planning, and ownership are becoming key.

The Role of Data Quality & Governance:

In the age of productized data, ensuring accuracy, governance, and discoverability at every stage is non-negotiable.

⏱️ Timestamped Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction to Santhosh Kumar & TREP’s mission in structured finance, CRE, and banking data.

[02:00] What does Data as a Product actually mean? Why it’s more than dashboards and CSVs.

[04:00] Balancing tech and business—where Santhosh’s team fits.

[07:00] Collaboration challenges: aligning with tech teams & self-serving stakeholders.

[09:00] How treating data like a product impacts strategy and mindset shifts.

[12:00] Key differences between data pipelines and software engineering cycles.

[14:00] The role of product managers on data teams.

[16:00] The increasing technical depth of data teams & potential future bifurcation of business vs. technical roles.

[18:00] Roadmap planning: how far ahead data teams are planning, and why.

[19:30] Final thoughts and how to connect with Santhosh on LinkedIn.

💡 Featured Quote:

"We use technology to translate business requirements and maximize value—that's where the magic happens. Data isn't just numbers; it's a product with purpose." – Santhosh Kumar

📣 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with your fellow data practitioners, software engineers, or tech leaders. Let’s get the conversation rolling—especially with CTOs and VPs who need to collaborate tighter with data teams!